a blend of yoga styles for all levels

Routine

12.01.15

Happy December! I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I am so grateful for you and very much appreciate you for being a part of the Yoga Blend family!

From an Ayurvedic perspective, we are in the midst of Vata season which is made up of the elements of air and ether with the qualities of light, mobile, cold, dry, subtle and rough. If we are not careful, this time of year can lead us to feel overwhelmed in our minds and rigid in our bodies. Taking the time to nurture ourselves through the practice of balancing opposites, we are more likely to counter those imbalances before they become a problem.

One simple thing to help us feel more grounded and therefore less overwhelmed is to establish a routine. This time of year tends to throw us off kilter because of the holidays and travel. A disruption in our regular routine can make us feel completely off balance. It may not be possible to have the same routine you are used to having but finding ways to maintain some sort of consistency can be very helpful such as waking up, eating and going to bed at the same time every day or establishing a short meditation practice to be done at the same time every day. Even 5 minutes of a grounding practice can help us feel more centered in the midst of our very hectic lives.

To counter the rigidity in the body, it can be very helpful to eat warm, moist foods and avoid anything cold, raw or dry which can cause lightness, tightness and dryness in the body. You can also add warming herbs to your meals or teas such as cinnamon, cardamon, cayenne or cloves. Also, when it’s cold and windy, be sure and wear a hat and a scarf because keeping the head and neck warm can help to warm the entire body.

Our practices is most beneficial when it creates balance in all areas of our lives, from our relationships to our lifestyles to our body, breath, senses, mind, etc. We are constantly riding the wave of life and trying to find that sweet spot in the center where we can adjust to the ups and downs without getting carried away by the tides of life. Applying some of the simple, yet powerful Ayurvedic balancing practices can go a long way to help us feel calm in our minds and fluid in our bodies.

At this time of year, which tends to be very challenging for me, I certainly need all the help I can get…hopefully this will help you too!

I am so excited to see everyone at our annual Holiday party coming up December 12th. Please come by for a few minutes or stay for the whole night. We also have some other great workshops and holiday classes as well as some schedule changes for the holidays, so please be sure and check it all out here!